the "3 stage shift light" - means that when you near redline, a light will turn on. as you get close, another will turn on, and when your there, the last one will turn on.

the "2 step" is a form of Launch control. its a 2nd rev limiter, just lower. this is used when sitting at the start. you mash the gas full throttle, but the computer limits the RPMs to a set limit. in my case its currently set to 3,000 RPMS. when the car launches, it then raises the rev limit to the normal 7,200 rev limit…. This is not so useful in regular autocross, but it will be very helpful at the Pro Solo in April where you have a drag race start.

the Data log switch is a switch we installed so I can tell it when to do data logs and when not to. (the new ECU does data logs. which means it can log parameters such as RPMs, Air temp, coolant temp, O2, knock, vehicle speed... anything we have hooked up to it)

the vehicle speed sensor is just that. we now use that in conjunction with the 2 step. (switch MUST be on, AND vehicle MUST be under 10 MPH for 2 step to activate). we will also use it for traction control in the near future.

 

That sounds great, so how well do you think you will place in April. What are the standings now...are you and Keith close?

 

off the top of my head, stephen, henry, kelvin, and some other guys from the 626 meet all have white 8's with black panels (hoods, trunks, roofs)...

i guess the Panda look is in again, or more like the cop car look?

 

 

So what did everyone do over the (between) the two holidays. I took the week off and relaxed...kind of.

 

i pretty much just relaxed too... waited for my KHS mountain bike to get delivered to the store, but it still hasn't showed up yet from the distribution center... spent some time with my sister & her family- eating, shopping, playing with my nephew.

i finished ratchet & clank crack in time and started on force unleashed ultimate sith edition. so far, no new story line yet- but i think towards the middle or end there should be...

went to mountain high yesterday for snowboarding... great weather. but, i swear, mt high needs to start enforcing it's speed limits cuz ppl were getting hit left-and-right on the intermediate slope. i must've seen more than 1/2 dozen ambulances going to pick ppl up who got hit. saw search & rescue on the slopes many times too... damned crazy speed freak teenagers who don't ski/ board responsibly i tell you... @#$%! i almost got hit 2 or 3 times myself without really doing anything wrong...

just saw Avatar last night in IMAX 3D and thought it was really cool... definitely a film with special effects eye candy up the yin yang, interesting characters, plus a positive environmental & humane message... some of the CG motion of the aliens still looked a little fakey to me. but, it's definitely not a show shopper or anything... the lines were crazy long.

 

I went on a crazy awesome mountain bike ride on Wednesday.

It all started with a thread in the forum, www.socaltrailriders.org soon enough we had 20 people who didnt know each other with varrying skil level come together for and epic trail, Plam Canyon Epic in Palm Springs. We met down in the valley at 8, left for the mountain at 8:45 and then started riding around 9:30. It must have been closed to 40 at the top. We were told to bring I.C.E. numbers, various tools for mechanical repairs and food, protection and possibly even a flashlight! It was about 28 miles long with 3300 ft of decending and some 2000ft of climbing.

You can see what the protection was for, not just for falling but the close incounters with the fawna. It was some trail, close to was described but not nearly the duration I expected. There was one seciton of wash that we rode in for 3 miles...trying riding your bicycle in the beach sand. The really rough stuff we have no pictures of sience we werent very able to stop at those sections.

The seek before some guy broke his bike frame and the week after we went some guy broke his ankle.

 

The secanic pictures were just amazing. We had rain which bought out a rainbow, we road though rabbit trails between the trees and big rollers below the ridges. Lots of single track with major consequences of falling (cati and continious drops). Eventually we made it to the valley floor but we were out in the middle of nowhere for some time. Big horn sheep poop was the only evidence of wildlife. With the clouds and sun popping through it was like god was watching over us. No major issues but we didi have some needed repairs. (3-4 flats, broken chain, bent derailer, worn out from brake shoes and one guy fell in to a cactus (not too bad).

The orange cactus above is a barrel cactus, not too many but if you touched it it would poke you pretty bad. The yellow cactus pokes you and then release it needles so they stay stuck, they can easily break off. This is the primary reason for leg protection.

 

At the very end we were riding a ridge with a 100ft+ wall and then the sun came out...what a sight. but then we had to drop on some switch backs. That I walked but most of the experiance guys did not. In the end it was 7.5 hours or riding time and about 8.5 or so total. I was cramping up all over my legs, a few people took the bail out fire road (short cut) as they were cramping even worse. Once we got back to the valley we got some mexican and relished in our experinace. I got the award for oldest bike. 13+ years when theirs were all 3-4 years old or younger. It was also the heaviest, stiffest and had worst brakes. I will not be riding this again until I get a new bike.

Check another one off my bucket list!

But it wasnt too bad to do another 50+ miles on my road bike on Sunday. Start preparing Gerry! jk

 

I relaxed. It is something I have become very good at.
I am still waiting on my X-mas gift. (new rifle)
This 10 day waiting period is BS!!!!

 

wow, that looked like a fun day loren! some of that trail looks way too advanced for me though... lol i still like a combo of trail and dirt. i can do some rocks, but after a while it gets very difficult...

 

bad news about the pats...think they can win two games keith?

But at least the pats are guarented a win this year, Tom Brady got come back player of the year.
Pats stuf on sale http://foxsports.seenon.com/index.ph...=all&fsal=true

 

the saints and colts might be a good match up... i'd prolly root for the colts tho... but the play offs are still going.

 

humpity dumpity day...

 

so when's the next meet?

 

Patriots win?

...welker out...no way, sorry tom, I've seen you play when welker is not in the lineup.

The injury was one of those freekish things where no one touches him, but rather on one of those signature cut backs, the leg/knee just gave out. It is sad. He leads the league in receptions, and didn't even play in three games. He is amazing to watch, and he made everyone else around him better because teams weren't able to decide....do we cover Moss, do we cover Welker, do we rush the qb, do we, do we.....well, now they don't have to worry.

However, welker does have a clone in Edelmen...the dude walks, talks, and looks like Welker....if he can fill those shoes, than maybe, just maybe.

 

we did play Baltimore this season and it was an ugly 7 point win....I think that may have been one of WElkers first or second games back, Brady was still trying to break the rust off, and we were starting to see a lot of injuries with our running backs.

The game will most likely come down to penalty yards and who can play defense the best. Patriot defense is like swiss cheese....not in the taste, but the fact of having holes part.

 

SATURDAY FOO...... and you WILL be there. :-)

 

is Cesar coming?

 

Jedi you better not flake. I washed the car last Saturday and I have been trying to keep it clean all week. I cant stay too late though because I have to work .

 

and I'm driving down from Beaumont to hand with the old crew.... so no flaking.

 

I would never flake out on you guys...

 

my car is dusty, and no time to wash. but, i'll be there...

 

spray it off in the morning and let it freeway dry!

 

mine is a bit dirty as well but I'll be there bright and early Saturday.